Countdown til Christmas
12-4-10
Woo woo! There are about 9 days left until I get to fly home for Christmas in the good ol' USA. I can't even describe the emotions running through my body. Excitement, nervousness, sadness for leaving my campo but a lot more happiness to get out of here. I really did want to see how Christmas is celebrated here in the DR but I think it will be a lot more meaningful next year. This year I am very eager to see my family and teach them everything that I've learned in my first year. I am also excited to see my friends, my polo girls and get down!
I am going to say that I feel like I definitely have created another family here in the DR that consists of a mixture of volunteers, dominican neighbors and my family. With the volunteers I can bitch about the dominicans and dance and be myself and with the dominicans it's all about learning and sharing of traditions and cultures. I definitely feel a lot more comfortable without the dominican family I have here. The other day I was on the toilet and I mandar'd my little hermanita to get me my phone so I could text people while pooping. Maybe a little too much info but that's definitely an "I knew I was integrated when…" story. (Haha Heather)
I feel like the dominicans are starting to get comfortable with me as well. They are all pretty much counting down along with me for my departure giving me long lists of stuff to bring them back. They're nuts cause I ain't bringing back shit. Haha. One wants a headlamp, one says she wants a sweater, another asked me for some pants. What the hell? Even on my morning runs the sweet man asked me to bring him back an ipod! My response "Are you crazy?" What are they thinking. First off the plane ticket alone is going to put me in a tight budget for xmas gifts so purchasing stuff in the US is impossible. Looks like I am going to be doing a lot of thrift store shopping (which I love anyway).
I feel like I am starting to feel a lot more comfortable with myself now as well. I've gained a bunch of weight and have struggled for a while on trying to lose it that it made me miserable. Now I am not completely comfortable (I still am going to try to lose it) but I don't feel helpless. I am opening my eyes to dating and what possibilities there are and I don't feel so closed shut on trying new things and just putting yourself out there. Life is all about the experiences you have and there are ups and downs and highs and lows. It's what you do after those experiences that count. Getting out of a 7 year relationship, I kind of felt like I was never going to get over it. I'm still not completely over it but now I know I am human and life goes on. Wah wah wah… :)
To be honest, these 9 months away from home has been an eye opening experience and has taught me a lot about growing up. I really hope to come home and not be a completely different person but someone who just looks more knowledgeable about her surroundings instead of jaded by whats in and whats cool. I left not really knowing where I was going. I still don't know what I'm doing. But I know that I am happy and I feel good about myself (on most days) :).